PICKLES WINS A 600YD THRILLER IN FINAL STRIDE
Ian Fortune
Coosane Pickles produced another brilliant display to capture the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600 at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night, again highlighting just how good racing over the extended 600yd trip can be.
This was a race that promised so much and it really did deliver. Race sponsor Yvonne Barry was delighted with the final line-up ahead of racing and predicted a tremendous contest. She was spot on with Lookandlep, De Lahdedah and Borna Show all making a bold bid to ultimately find Coosane Pickles too good.
Pic right: Yvonne Barry and her guests ahead of Saturday's action at Shelbourne Park.
The layers couldn’t separate Ballinabola Joe and Coosane Pickles ahead of the race with the duo being sent off the 9-4 joint favourites. From the start it was clear Ballinabola Joe was going to struggle to land a blow after coming away slowly from four.
In contrast, his market rival Coosane Pickles shot from five to lea the field into the turn. Lookandlep improved his position to sit a close second into the bend but made the most of his inside line to move on at this point.
Ballinabola Joe had actually flown up behind the leaders but ran into the back end of Coosane Pickles as she moved wide, leaving Lookandlep to lead into the back straight. De Lahdedah was now in second, just ahead of Coosane Pickles, after staying tight to the fence and looked a serious threat.
It was race on. De Lahdedah moved off the fence to make his challenge on the outside of Lookandlep into the third turn. As a result, Coosane Pickles was also carried wide. Lookandlep continued to lead at the third turn but De Lahdedah was on his shoulder only to be held up slightly as the pair brushed.
It was all the encouragement Coosane Pickles needed. Driving the third turn, she shot past De Lahdedah to join and head Lookandlep before the final turn. It was her race to lose.
Owner Clement Ryan and handler Michael O’Donovan would have been more than happy with what they were witnessing but Coosane Pickles was to leave the door open for her rivals when running extremely wide off the final turn.
Lookandlep moved back to the front and ran hard to the line but Coosane Pickles wasn’t going to be denied. Finishing with real purpose, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Pickles rallied to join Lookandlep on the line. It was a thrilling conclusion to a wonderful competition with the judge declaring that Coosane Pickles got the verdict by the shortest of short heads in a rapid 32.29. There was just a length to the fast-finishing Borna Show in third.
Sponsor Yvonne Barry presents the Trophy to Fr Tony Ryan after Coosane Pickles won the 2025 Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600 Final. Also included are Dylan Brennan Racing Manager, trainer Michael O'Donovan, Kevin Kells, Paddy and Tom Ryan, Cathal Curley and David Lawlor. Pic: Imelda Grauer
RULE WITH THE ADVANTAGE
Advantage Rule was a superb winner of the opening semi-final, stepping up on his previous form to run out a ready two length winner in 28.39.
Trained by Kurtis Bain for the Liquorice Allsorts Syndicate, the son of Grangeview Ten and Myahs Friend disputed the lead into the turn with the fast-starting Tarsna Blaze.
With the inside line in his favour, Advantage Rule took charge on the turn and that was that. Maintaining a purposeful gallop throughout, the January ’24 puppy proceeded to dominate. Down Tothe Wire ran on to take second with Tarsna Blaze just a half-length adrift in third.
GLORIOUS RUN FROM GLORIA
Ballymac Gloria was only fourth into the turn in the second semi-final but displayed real track craft, determination and tremendous pace to get to the front in the closing stages. Predictably,
Magical Max set a strong pace at the head of affairs but he was under pressure when Ballymac Gloria appeared in his wing mirrors around the last two bends.
She had slipped inside Matts Meraki at the turn to go third before moving past Innfield Trinity into the third turn. Once doing so, it was inevitable she would get to the leader. Liam Dowling’s talented daughter of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Wisdom stayed on stoutly to pick up Magical Max on the run in to win by a length in 28.44. Innfield Trinity was two lengths further adrift in third.
MATI MAKES HIS MARK
The final of the €2,250 Yvonne Barry Bookmaker Mini Open 525 saw Hackey Mati claim a first success around Dublin when outstaying the long-time pace-setter Elite Kursk.
Once turning second, Hackney Mati always seemed to have the leader in his sights and made his move around the last two bends.
Closing into the third turn, the Michael O’Donovan trained son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Pete stayed tight to the fence to edge on as they turned for home. Owned by the hackney Boys Syndicate, Hackney Mati eased on to beat Elite Kursk by two and a half lengths in 28.35.
SLICK WINS THE SHOOTOUT
Droopys Slick was an aptly named winner of the Shelbourne AA0 v Shelbourne maidens Shootout as he flew around in a sizzling 28.12 to land the €2,000 prize.
The Robert Gleeson trained son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Fia had only opened his account a week earlier in the semis but made light work of doubling his tally.
Paul Allen’s star maintained a strong gallop throughout to see off the persistent Exclusion Order by three lengths with Jacktavern Storm a further three lengths adrift in third.
MAGIC MARTHA STILL PERFORMING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
Bill Wood’s Glengar Martha may have gone four years of age earlier this month but she continues to be a star.
She would take the penultimate race on the card in typically impressive fashion, showing superb early speed on the outside of the track to dominate.
Bowadis Raven took up the pursuit into the back straight but was never close enough to worry the leader. The Pat Buckley trained Glengar Martha was simply too good as she raced on to win by six and a half lengths in rapid 28.13.
ORATOR COMPLETES A DOUBLE FOR MURT
Murt Leahy certainly made a bright start to the evening’s entertainment, sending out the first two winners with Droopys Orator completing the double in the A0 second race.
Razor sharp at traps, the son of Droopys Scolari and Droopys Beaufort, who is owned by the Punch Drunk Four Syndicate, was in charge throughout.
Zenith Pasha and Coolavanny Ogie ran on best to take second and third but Droopys Orator was never under any serious pressure as he hit the line a length and a half to the good in 28.47.
CLAN OFF TO A FLIER
Gavin Nolan and Thomas Maher’s Cloverfield Clan had initiated the double for Murt Leahy in the AA0 575 opener.
The son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Saga was at his sharpest in the early yards and made every inch after a fast start.
Bogger Bob gave chase for much of the way but ran out of steam. Instead, Karacreek Ranch and Dashing Toro ran on to make the frame but Cloverfield Clan would go on to beat the former by three parts of a length in 31.12.
TEDDY FIRES IN FINALE
Clonfert Teddy took the finale for John Young, making the most of an inside draw over the 575yd trip to turn with a few lengths in hand.
Onceina Lifetime did emerge from the pack and closed into the third turn but the gap was too great.
Clonfert Teddy saved ground off the final turn and that made the difference. The son of Grangeview Ten and Stellas Fruity would go on to beat Onceina Lifetime by a length in 31.39.